Stocking of the strain absorber type



drop stitches into a convex Patented1 May 45, i942 Howard B. Snader,'.lemple,"la.',;v assigner to Vanity Fair Silk Mills, Reading, Pat,v acorpora'- tion o! Pennsylvania Application June 16, V1939, serian No.,279,543A

v(ci. csfmi n 6 Claims. This invention relates toknit hosiery of thetype having an integrally knit band of twof-way stretch f rubber fabricof fine gauge covered rubber yarn between the welt and knee,for thepurpose of,`v absorbing Ylongitudinal stresses occasioned byj flexingthe knee.

It is known that lsuch astrain absorbing band as is above described setsin the form of a cirf cumferential channel when the stocking. is vin*relaxed state, impairing v the salesappeal of the stocking. Thistendency to curl is due to the fact that ne gauge covered rubber yarn,onlacc'ou'nt of the ease with which it stretches, cannot be knit on amachine without tensioningit, so that ywhen the loops are shed fromtheneedlesfthis tension-- is relaxed, the fabric contracts,` andthefcurl` results.

Yto inhibit curling of the strain absorbing band,

perhaps the most emcient is the provision of a series of rib formationsrunning across the band in the direction of its width. These ribs arepart of the upper part ofthe stocking to spreadv f1 the elastic bandcircumferentially.

, r Another object ofthe invention is to provide a stockingof the typehaving the strain absorbing I bandas described, in which the parts ofthe stocking between. which thev elastic band is intercalated,`made ofthe basic inelastic yarn, are narrowedxalongl the edges to which theelastic band l is integrally united.

Qtherfobjects of the invention will appear as 'the followingldescriptionof a preferred and practical eniboliment thereof proceeds. In the`drawingwhich accompanies and forms a part of gthis specification, andthroughout the `sex/eralil'guresIof which the same characters ofreferencehave been employed to designate idenl j tical parts:` v' 1Among various means which have been devised formed between walewise rowsof drop stitches-in the elastic band, said rows of drop stitches pro-`viding fullness which permits the rubber in those parts of the coursesbetween the drop stitches to contract, bending the fabric between therows, 'of

the ribs.

These convex reinforcements` have a girder function in maintaining 'thestrain absorbing band dat, notwithstanding its inherent urge to curl. ff

shape, thus forming.'

The'efliciency of such rib formations in pre--1 venting curling isimpairedl through'the factthat "Figure 1 ,is 'a' .view .inl elevation of`the upper Iportion lofl a'stocking showing a strain absorbing `204band. and embodying'thefeatures of the present lnventiom* v vFigure 2"is`a diagram'showing' in a conventionalized way'fthe knitting in thelines of juncture between'the elasticfbandand theadjacent upper andlower part of the stockingin lone form of the invention; 1 f

`- Figure 3 is a crosssection illustrating the convex nature of the ribformation; and .v

Figure 4 is avview similar, to Figure 2, illustrating another'modification-'of the invention.

Referring-now in detail to the figures, and first n adverting to thatformlof the invention shown in Figure 2, thepartof the knitting embracedwithin the welt or upper part of thestocking to which the elastic bandis customarily integrallyunited, i. loop for loop, is made of inelasticyarn which does not contract when the loops are shed from the needles;therefore, the inelastic fabric at the line of juncture with the elasticband remains spread, while the elastic band contracts, the result beingthat the inelastic fabric holdsl thefupperedge of the elastic bandspread circumferentially and thus keeps the upper ends ,of thetransverseribs from assuming a convex form, .therebyfimpairing tliefvgirder function of said ribs atleast insofar as pre-4 band, isconcerned. e,

The object of the presentinvention'is to provide for the narrowing Vofthe lower circumferentiai edge of the upper part,` of.'the stockingmadeof inelastic yarn to which the elastic bandA isinte,

venting curling along theupperedgeofth'erelastic grally knit sothat-there is no tendencyon-,th

thebrackets a and b are made of inelastic yarn,

while that part'ofe'the knittingI embraced within e the bracket'c 'isfabricatedfrom fine gauge covered elastic rubber yarn, and constitutesthe strain absorbing'band or zone.' A'series of rows 'of'. drop;stitches l.' 2 and 3 are formed, preferably at regular-intervals',widthwise ofthe strain abi sorbing zone, leaving several rows of loops4, 5 and 6 therebetween.-v ;lThefullness which'y is produced'Kbydropping the -stitchespermits thefelastic fabric constituted by therowsof loops 4, 5 and 6 tol 'contract togetherintotheconvex form shownin cross-section atfl in'Figure 3.

It' is,`of` course-'a matter ofelemental vknowledge that any sheet'material Abent into a convex "'fgrmis therebys'tiiened in the directionof the lengthof thecorrugation. Consequent1y,l the corrugations 'or ribsformed by' the convex bending ,ofthe rowsfof loops 4, Sand Shave agirder function injstiileningj the strain absorbing band ina W'idthwisedirection, overcoming itsinherent urgev It will be obvious to thoseskilledin the art that if lthe top edge of the strain absorbing bandwere.

united loop for loop with the welt or upper part of the stocking madefrom inelastic yarn, the 'y latter being in uncontracted statewill'vmaintain the edge of the elastic band to` which it is united,

in circumferentially spread condition so thatthe circumferential stressimparted to said band will prevent the upper portions of the rows ofloops 4, 5 and 6 from bending together in convex form, but will keepthem substantially planiform. Thus, to

the extent that they are prevented from bending;

their girder effect does not materialize and they -fail to adequatelyreinforce the strain absorbing band, permitting it to curl. K

vThe present invention aims to narrow the edge of the relativelyinelastic-upper part of the stock- .ing t0 which the strain absorbingzone is attached, and thus to obviate the spreading of the upper edge ofthe strain absorbing zone. means provided for narrowing-the lower edgeof the welt or upper part of the stocking is a simple transfer stitch 8done inthe last course of part ofthe stocking and the strain absorbingzone is the same as that shown in Figure 2, but the knitting adjacentthe line of juncture between the strain absorbing zone and the legportion of the stocking involves a similar series of transfer stitches.It will be understoodthat the yarn l0 in which the transferred loopsoccur is inelastic.

The transferred stitches Il which are in the line of the rib formationshave the same functionas the correspondingv transferred stitchesadjacent thetop edge of the. strain absorbing zone, that is, theyconstitute a break in the knitting, per'- mitting the unrestrainedconvexing of the ribs.

The transferred loops I2 which occur in the line of the drop stitchesform a loose course between the elastic strain absorbing zone and theinelastic yarn of the leg portion of the-stockingwhich still furtherremove the tendency of the leg portion of the stocking to spread theadjacent course or courses of the strain absorbing band. This course oftransferred loops between the strain inelastic yarn and repeatedcircumferentially at desired intervals. Figure 2 shows that certain ofthese transferred loops come at the head of the rows of drop ,stitchesand form. run stopsl therefor. Said 4transfer stitches reduce the numberof points at which the strain absorbing zone is joined `to the vupperpart `of the stocking.

In this manner the spreading of the upper portion of the strainabsorbing zone is prevented. Figure 2 shows, furthermore, that certainof the transferred loops come at the head of the middle row5, which isinvolved in the rib formation and I- thus produces suitable breakbetween the rib and the superadjacent part of the stocking, increasingthe freedom of the rib to assume a convex form.

' It is, of course, old Wherever drop'stitc'hing is employed inknitting, to transfer a loop at the head of the'row of drop stitches tolimit the run ofthe drop stitches, butin such patterns as haveheretofore been devised, the drop stitching as well as the transferredloopv constituting the run stop has been' altogether in the elasticstrain absorbing zone where it has not the slightest Veffect inpreventing the spread of the upper edge of the strain absorbing zone atits line of juncture t v with the inelastic yarn of the stocking.

In that formbf the invention. illustrated in Figure 2, the expedientemployed at the line of junctureY of the strain absorbing band and theupper portion of the stocking, of narrowingthe 'last course in theinelastic fabric is not necessary at the lineof juncture of the strain`absorbing band and the inelastic fabric includedwithin absorbing bandvand the leg portion of the stock.- ing especially effective inpreventing the leg portion of the stocking from spreading the adjacentportion'of the strain absorbing zone after the leg portion has beenabnormally distended by being worn upon a large leg.

yIt will be'A apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention isnot necessarily confined to courses of transferred stitches in theinelastic fabric `to which the strain absorbing band is in'- tegrallyknit, but that any type of knitting which effects narrowing in theinelastic fabric adjacent the line or lines of juncture `of the samewith the Y rows of drop stitches spaced apart by a plurality the bracketb, inasmuch as the transition from the knitting of the elastic yarn tothat of the inelastic yarn forming the leg portion of the stockinginvolves only the addition of .a row of loops in line with the rows ofdrop stitching. It is es-v sential that the first course 9 in which theadded loops appear shall be of inelastic yarn and the l. added loopsoccur only in line with the rows of drop stitching. 'Ihe dotted lines dand e-in Figure 2 indicate the actual position of the limbs of the addedloop, from which it will readily be seen that there is no tendency tospread the lower edge ofjthe strain absorbing zone through increasingthe number of stitchesin the inelastic courses which are succeedinglyknitted.. 'Y

Figure 4 shows a slightvr'nodied form of the invention, in which theconstruction of the knitting at the line of juncture between the upperlill of walewise rows of loops forming transverse convex ribs, saidstrain absorbing' band being in-l tegrally knit to said upper portion, acourse of inelastic. yarn of said upper portion adjacent the line ofjuncture of said upper portion .with-said strain absorbing band beingknit, with transferred stitches in the longinudinsu lines of said ribs,performing thel dual functions of narrowing the margin of theupperportion at the line of june- -ture with the strain absorbing band,preventing spreading with consequent fiattening of the ribs, andaffording a break between said upper portion and the ribs,facilitatingthe. convexing of the ribs transversely of their lengthunder the contraction of the material of said. ribs away from said rowsof drop stitches, the transferred stitch formation being duplicated inan inelastic yarn of the leg portion adjacent the line of juncture ofsaid leg portion with said strain absorbing band.

2. Stocking comprising anupper-.portion knit-'- from basic inelasticyarn and a two-way stretch knitv strain absorbing' band of ne gaugevcovered .l rubber yarn having the inherent tendency to curl,

and being formed at intervals with transverse rows of drop stitchesspaced apart the distance of a plurality of rows of elastic loopsforming convex ribs, saidstrain absorbing band being integrally knit tosaid upper portion, a course of the inelastic yarn of said upper portionadjacent the lineV said course of inelastic yarn knit with saidtransferred stitches functioning to narrow the margin of said upperportion to which said strain absorbing band is integrally knit,preventing spreading of said strain absorbing band circumferentiallywith consequent flattening of said ribs.

3. Stocking as claimed in claim 2, the transferred stitch formationbeing duplicated in an inelastic yarn oi' the leg portion adjacent theline of juncture of said leg portion with said strain absorbing band.

4. Stocking comprising an upper portion knit from basic inelastic yarn,and a two-way stretch knit strain absorbing band of fine gauge coveredrubber yarn having the inherent tendency to curl, and being formed atintervals with transverse rows of dropy stitches spaced apart by aplurality of walewise rows of loops forming transversely convex ribs,said strain absorbing band being integrally knit to said Upper Portion,a course of inelastic yarn of said upper POI'iOn 8d- ;lacent the line ofjuncture of said upper portion with said strain absorbing band beingknit with stitches Atransferred-irom rows in longitudinal alignment withsaid rows of rib-forming loops, performing the dual fimction ofnarrowing the margin of the upper portion at the line of juncture withthe strain absorbing band, preventlng spreading with consequentflattening of the ribs. and affording a break between said upper portionand the ribs, facilitating the convexing of the ribs transversely oftheir length under the contraction of material of said ribs away fromsaid rows of drop stitches. i

5. Stocking comprising an upper portion knit from basic inelastic yarn,and a two-way stretch knit strain absorbing band of ne gauge coveredrubber yarn having the inherent tendency to curl, and being formed atintervalswith transverse rows of drop stitches extending therethroughspaced apart by a plurality of walewise rows of loops formingtransversely convex ribs, said vstrain absorbing band being integrallyknit to said upper portion, with transferred locking loops for the rowsof drop stitches, in the line of juncture between said upper portion andsaid strain absorbing band, and alternate transferred loops in said lineof juncture, at the heads of said ribs, breaking the continuity of themedian wale chains of said ribs, relieving the knitting at the heads ofsaid ribs of coursewise tension.

6. Stocking comprising a two-way stretch knit A strain absorbing band ofiine gauge covered rubber yarn integrally intercalated between portionsknit from basis inelastic yarn, said two-way stretch bandI being formedat intervals with transverse rows of drop stitches extendingtherethrough spaced apart by a plurality of walewise rows of loopsforming transversely convex ribs,

with transferred locking loops for the rows offV drop stitches, intheline of juncture between said upper portion and said strain absorbingband, and alternate transferred loops in said line of juncture, at theheads of said ribs, brea the continuity ofthe median wale chains of saidribs,

